Can-opener



(No Model.) 7

W. A. MQFARLANE. v

- 7 CAN OPENER.

No. 264,549. Patented Sept.19, 1882.

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WITNESSES. 1 INVBNTOR:

Q 7 ATTORNEYS.

N. PUERS. Pmmumo nphor. Wnmn nm 0.6.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. MoFAR-LANE, on IVANPAH, CALIFORNIA.

CAN-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part 'of Izetters Patent No. 264,549, dated September 19, 1882,

" Application filed A rims, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM A. MGFAR- LANE, of Ivanpah,f'in the county of San Bernardinoand State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Devices for Opening Cans, of which the following is a full,

' clear,'and exact description.

My invention relates to' improvements in can-openers; and it consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims. The block ie which the cutter or blade is journaled is made reversible upon the bar, so that the blade may be heldparallel with or at right angles to the bar for making a circular or straight out, as desired, which also constitutes a feature of my invention.

The invention further consists in the details of construction and the combinations and arrangements of parts, all as hereinafter more fully described. 7

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, formiugapartofthis specification',in which similarletters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved can-opener as itvappears when placed upon the can ready for use. tional plan view of the can-opener, the blade being placed at right angles to the bar. Fig.

3 is a side elevation of the same, the blade being arranged parallel with the bar. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation taken on the line to wot Fig. 5, and Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on the line 3 y of Fig. 1.

, A represents the main bar, which is preferably square in cross-section.

B represents the block which carries the revolving blade or cutter D, and 0 represents the hollow handle, which is made detachable from the end of the bar by means of the spring 01 and catch 6, which engage with suitable notches in the end of the bar, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2. The blade or cutter is journaled in the lugs or projections f f, formed on the underside of the block, and the lower side of the block is formed with the slot 9, to accommodate the edge of the blade or cutter, which in this instance is made more than twice the width of the lugs above the shaft or pivot a, upon which the blade revolves. The

Fig. 2 is a sec block is mortised through in opposite directions with the mortises b and c, and is adapted to be placed upon the bar, so as to hold the blade at right angles with the bar, as shown .in Figs. 1, 2, and 5,or parallel therewith, as

shown in Fig. 3, and the block is adapted to be moved upon the bar to suit the size of the can to be opened, and set at any desired point by the set-screw h.

Theforward end of theliar' is provided with the spiral or corkscrew point 7', which is adapted to pass through the top of the can, as

shown in Fig. 1, to act-as a fulcrum, and as a pivotal center when the implement is used for making circular cuts. Instead of using a spiral point, a plain or curved point might be used for piercing the earl and holding the implement. In both cases the pointmay bemade a part of the bar A, or rigidly secured to it'; but it is preferred to make the point a part of the plate 13 and pivot the plate to the side of the bar, so that it may be folded back, as'shown in Figs. 2 and 3, to permit the bar to be placed in the hollow handle when not in use.

The end of the plate 2' is made diagonal, which, when the point is brought in position for use, comes against the corresponding olfset, k, ofthe bar and holds the point to its work.

When the implement is to be used for making straight cuts the point j will not be used,

as the block will be placed upon the bar A, as

When thcradius of the wheel is greater than the length of the lugs ff, as shown in the drawings, the side of the bar A next to the wheel will be guttered or made concave, as shown at s, Fig. 5, so as to clear the edge .ot' the wheel. In case the wheel is made of a less radius than the length of the said lugs, of course this gutter will not be needed, and the slot 9 can then also be dispensed with.

I am aware that acan-opener provided with l allel with the bar as and for the purposes set a point at. its end and with a revolving cutter forth. adjustably secured on its shank has heretofore I 2. In a can-opener, the bar A, having the been employed, and I therefore lay no claim folding point j, in combination with a movable I5 5 to such construction. and reversible block, B, provided with the re Havingthus described my invention, I claim volving blade or cutter I), as and for the puras new and desire to secure by Letters Patent pose specified.

1. In combination with the bar A, the block WILLIAM ALEXANDER MCFARLANE. B, mortised through in opposite directions and Witnesses: 10 adapted to be reversed upon the bar A, for IV. J. CURTIS,

holding the blade D at right angles to or par- JOHN V. SATTERWHITE. 

